Hello Everyone,

With all the hiring happening right now at basically every airline, I haven't seen much movement at SWA. From reading APC it looks like this is due to the lack of personnel to train new hires. I live in the Orlando area and would love to work at SWA. Even with the knowledge that MCO would take time to hold and the upgrade isn't quick I have had such a positive experience while commuting for both military and regional life that I can only hope to get on with Southwest. I have applied on the last 3-4 windows with no luck so far and I believe the references section have a big Red X has someting to do with it. My question is 1) does anyone know if this has something to do with selection and 2) where/how do you meet SW pilots to get an Internal rec? Does SW do a "Meet the Chiefs" or career fairs and if so whats the prospect of this alone working out? My apologies if this is in another forum and feel free to delete or move this into the appropriate spot.

Don't give up, it took me 6 windows. Didn't attend any events, just kept applying. Have the virtual next week and crossing fingers/praying/hoping/monkey dusting all I can to get the job. Seemingly things are on a rocky road at the moment, but I am sure good things will come.

I wouldn’t sweat the internal recommendation. They don’t help you get a call for an interview any earlier. I’m currently at requal training and was told we want to hire over 3000 pilots over the next two years, and then 1000 a year for the next 7. Was told that there are currently about 3000 very qualified applicants. However, I’ve seen a slide that shows the legacies, UPS, and FedEx planning on hiring 7500 pilots this year. If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will get a phone call…..

Do you have a boat? Invite someone to go fishing on a layover and I'm sure they'll give you a recommendation

Those numbers are insane. A quick glance at retirement numbers and we have about 3000 retiring during that period. We have about 9000 now. Quick math would have us at 16000. We would be the largest airline in the world. If we keep 12:1 pilot to airplane ratio that would put us at 1333 planes. Seems a little too optimistic but I wouldn’t complain

My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.

before the max and covid they had big plans. So maybe they are back on? Remember the term training float? I'm betting we announce another fleet type in 3 yrs and operating it in 5.
In January 2020 in the training house the checkairman were a buzz about how we are going to take over the world just wait and see. Even the van driver confirmed.
I bet a fine bottle of Irish whiskey or bottle of your choice up to and including a $50 value. If I upgrade by then mark me down good for a C note worth of spirits.

3,000 retirements? Do you mean 300 perhaps?

If we want to also hire 3,000 in the next two years, SWA had better get krackin on a contract. 10 year upgrades to OAK… yeah. You’d better have an industry leading contract.

How on earth will we have the flight instructors for that? That’s 1,500 upgrades over that 2 year period. 4,500 training events not counting normal AQP.